Hi there and welcome to the BrisStyle Inc. community blog. BrisStyle Inc. is a community group of artists and crafters who live in and around Brisbane. We work to provide support and creative opportunities for our members through workshops, business and creative development sessions, markets (come and meet the makers), exhibitions and social get-togethers. Head over to our website www.brisstyle.com.au for more information.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Shop Handmade: Reverse Garbage

The Reverse Garbage gift shop was started in 2001, and was a pioneer venue for Brisbane crafters to showcase and sell their handmade wares. For the past 9 years the Reverse Garbage gift shop has aimed to promote the creative re-use of high quality discards that would have otherwise gone to land fill. Materials such as fabrics, timbers, metal, paper and card and also salvaged embellishments like buttons and beads have been transformed into fantastic handmade items ranging from clothing and kids toys to jewellery, artworks, sculptures and gorgeous items for the home. It is Brisbane's best kept secret for the most beautiful eco handmade gifts and treasures!

Anyone can become an RG gift shop stockist, we are always on the lookout for fresh talent to stock the shelves and help us promote sustainability and creative reuse through arts and crafts. The criteria for items stocked in the gift shop is that they must be handmade by the artist and made up of at least 75% salvaged, reused, pre-loved or recycled materials.

We have had a few Bristylers stock the shelves over the years! Currently we are stocking lovely cards and prints on salvaged paper by Sally Flynn of Flight Industries and lavender birds by Rebecca Cason of Edward and Lilly. We love catching up with our artists and also meeting new ones! We have recently started hosting "Artists afternoon tea At RG" a relaxing informal gathering of makers and crafters with lovely teas, organic wines and cakes. Guests mingle and network with other crafters using salvaged materials in their arts and crafts practice.

Every three months we hold a themed exhibition of handmade wares in the gift shop space which is a lot of fun to plan and be involved in. Opening night draws a crowd of about 200, we have a bar, live entertainment and of course late night shopping in the RG warehouse! Our most recent exhibition was "Plastic Fantastic" an exhibition showcasing funky jewellery, bags and home wares made from plastic. The next one, scheduled for September 18th is "Junky Couture" which will be a spring fashion wearable art extravaganza with performance models, a henna body artist and of course live entertainment. We are currently taking submissions for "Junky Couture" So if you would like to be involved please get in touch via our website!

Reverse Garbage will also be at the BrisStyle Indie Eco Market on this Saturday 10 July, 9am-2pm (click here for details), their stall will feature a range of salvaged materials for sale as well as examples from the gift shop showcasing the type of things that can be created by these materials. You can also purchase subscriptions to Reverse Garbage on the day.

All the details about how to be part of "Junky Couture" can be found on our website or email Brooke at info@reversegarbage.com.au. You can also become a fan of Reverse Garbage on Facebook for updates on events, an invitation to the next "Artist's afternoon tea at RG", warehouse specials and new stock!